Daly's at-ease attitude perfect for Ryder Cup

Monday night golf is hardly a prep race for next month's Ryder
Cup, but the Lincoln Financial Battle at The Bridges did provide
some keen insight into what kind of teammate John Daly would be if
he ends up making the team.

Daly isn't a big talker, and his mumbling didn't exactly make
for can't-miss television, but it was obvious Monday that other
players enjoy being around him, particularly Tiger Woods and Phil
Mickelson, arguably the two most important golfers on the U.S.
team.

Mickelson and Daly enjoyed some laughs as Battle teammates,
poking fun at each other after surrendering a two-hole lead to
winners Tiger Woods and Hank Kuehne.

"Hey, we won the long-drive competition," Mickelson joked
afterward.

And in the press room after the 18-hole exhibition, Daly, amidst
all the ribbing and joking around, made one thing perfectly clear
to Phil, Tiger and everyone listening.

"I would love to be a part of that team," said Daly, still
searching for his first Ryder Cup berth.

The big man from Arkansas is currently ranked 20th in the U.S.
Ryder Cup point standings and would need a win or second-place
finish at next week's PGA Championship to earn one of the 10
automatic entries. But captain Hal Sutton does have the option of
choosing Daly as one of his two captain's picks to round out the
12-man team.

With so many golfers playing well this year -- Jerry Kelly,
Scott Verplank and Jay Haas come to mind -- Sutton will not be lost
on choices. And knowing that Sutton isn't the type of guy who takes
many chances, Daly as a wild-card selection may be a bit of a
stretch.

But from what I saw under the lights at The Bridges at Rancho
Santa Fe, Daly would be an ideal fit.

Dubbed the people's champion, Daly has that certain something
that makes everyone around him feel at ease. There's a certain
teddy bear sentimentality about him that could go a long way in
helping break the ice at a serious event like the Ryder Cup, which
can put a lot of pressure on players.

Mickelson said he's always "on edge" at the biannual event.

"Everyone's playing so good, I think our team is going to be
strong no matter if I'm on it or not," Daly said. "I would love to
be a pick, but that's Hal's decision."

The Ryder Cup is set for Sept. 17-19 at Oakland Hills Country
Club in Michigan.

Frasier takes World title

Danielle Frasier of Encinitas came from three shots back on the
final day of the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship to win the
11-year-old girls division last weekend at Williamsburg, Va.

Playing as a member of the California-South All-Star team,
Frasier shot 7-under-par 209 with rounds of 74-67-68 to help her
team to a first-place finish over Florida-North and Mexico.
California-South also won the boys division, finishing ahead of
Florida-North and North Carolina.

Courtney Hooten of Del Mar placed third in the 10-year-old girls
division. Her younger sister, Chloe Belle, took fourth in the
8-and-under division.